Sowing confusion? Napoles as state’s witness unacceptable

Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the P10-billion PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) scam, reportedly gave Justice Secretary Leila de Lima a list that included 19 more senators among those who supposedly received huge kickbacks/commissions from her.

News reports about the possibility of Napoles turning state’s witness have given rise to all kinds of speculations and innuendoes. However, De Lima was quick enough to dispel all these and has implied that she is suspending any action on it for the moment.

I hope De Lima would not make the mistake of accepting Napoles as state’s witness just to ferret out the truth on the alleged involvement of three senators (Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla), their staff and other lawmakers. I believe the testimonies of the whistle-blowers (Benhur Luy et al.) and Ruby Tuason against the accused can stand on their own and are strong and substantial enough. Napoles, whether she is the mastermind or just a secondary “player” in this grand scam, must not be allowed to get off the hook. If indeed guilty, she too should be duly penalized according to the

demands of the law.

The issue on the list of 19 more senators involved in the scam must not be allowed to hinder or derail whatever moves the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman have made in relation to the first batch of the accused.

Must the list be made available to the public? Let us hope that this is not just a ploy of Napoles to sow confusion and derail the smooth flow of the initial proceedings, or to get immunity from conviction.

—THERESA PILI-NISPEROS,

Tondo, Manila